Beyond The Fights: Books About MMA

By Nolan Barias


If you can't seem to get enough of mixed martial arts by just watching the fights and discussing fighters on MMA forums, there is a wealth of great MMA books out there to enjoy. Whether you want to learn about MMA history or improve your fighting techniques, there is something for everyone.

An MMA library would hardly be complete without at least a few books about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and its founding family, the Gracies. For a comprehensive, if somewhat idyllic, history of the family, Kid Peligro's volume "The Gracie Way: An Illustrated History of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Family," is a must read. Another great choice would be "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique," written by Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie and John Danaher.

Fighter B.J. Penn has written several excellent MMA books, but "Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge," is probably one of his best and a great primer for anyone looking to really improve their MMA game plan. Penn's philosophy incorporates the idea that you should create a strategy that is based around your strengths but be able to incorporate a fluid mix of striking, submissions and takedowns. You also might consider reading Penn's personal autobiography entitled, "Why I Fight."

Even those with just a rudimentary knowledge of MMA have heard of Pat Miletich, the UFC's first welterweight division champ. If you want to learn more about this legendary fighter, check out "Blood in the Cage," which chronicles his rise as a fighter as well as the general growth and history of MMA, from small cage fights into a multi-million dollar industry.

To gain the prospective of another MMA great, consider reading "Becoming the Natural," by UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champ Randy Couture. This book details his early years as a wrestler into his career as an MMA fighter. He also has written several manuals for MMA fighters and "Xtreme Training," which offers an abundance of helpful photographs and step-by-step instructions to keep you continuously improving your fighting skills.

If you truly want to delve into the philosophy side of mixed martial arts, consider reading up on Bruce Lee, who was truly one of the first to bring the idea of combining multiple fighting styles to the forefront. His book, "Tao of Jeet Kune Do," is a legendary work and definitely worth a serious read.




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